Apple plans to launch a bunch of devices in late 2025 and early 2026. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Instead of new Macs, Apple will reportedly use the next iPad Pro refresh as the debut device for its M5 chip. The new tablet could launch “as early as October.”
It’s also working on an M4 iPad Air refresh and iPhone 17e for a possible early 2026 launch.
The latest M5 MacBook Pro rumor says the updated macOS notebook won’t be out until next year. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple might not get the next-generation MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor out this autumn, as had been expected. The notebook will instead launch early next year, according to a respected source of insider information.
If true, it means that Apple’s new Mac processor will once again launch in an iPad.
Your next Mac could come with the latest macOS release pre-installed. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
With ‘Presto,’ Apple devised a way to wirelessly update iPhones without right through their retail packaging. With macOS Tahoe, the company could bring the same technology to Macs.
This change will ensure your new Mac runs the latest available macOS version, no matter how long it’s been sitting in inventory.
The latest Vision Pro headset boosts processing power and improves comfort. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple prepares to launch its first major update to the Vision Pro AR/VR headset as early as this year, featuring a faster M4 processor and a redesigned strap aimed at addressing comfort complaints that have plagued the $3,499 device since its launch, according to a new report.
Apple might reserve the bigger design changes to the iPhone 17 Pro. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A new leak provides more details about the upcoming iPhone 17 family’s design changes, including possibly UI changes based on the Dynamic Island. While the base model will feature slight design tweaks, the Pro models will adopt a new “horizontal large matrix design.”
The entire lineup will also supposedly use narrow-bezel LIPO flat screens, a technology that enables even thinner bezels than current solutions.
You don’t have to wait until autumn to find out what the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has to offer. Photo: Apple
After a very modest refresh last year, rumors indicate the Apple Watch Ultra 3 — set to launch this September alongside the iPhone 17 series — will mark Apple’s most ambitious wearable update yet.
Here’s what we’re expecting in 2025’s major overhaul of Apple’s rugged smartwatch. Keep reading or check out our latest video.
Apple wants a low-end MacBook that's colorful and more affordable than ever. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple reportedly plans to release its cheapest MacBook ever next year. This low-cost laptop might run on an iPhone chip and help Apple convince more people to switch from Windows machines.
Could playful colors — and possibly a plastic case — make this low-end Apple laptop a hit?
Also on The CultCast:
Apple might lean on Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s ChatGPT to power the long-delayed smarter Siri.
A new timeline lays out what to expect from the next three years of Apple Vision headsets and smart glasses.
In the how-to segment, we discuss our picks for the best Apple Watch faces. We also talk about why you might want to change things up.
In the new listener question segment, we explain what to do when you’re low on iCloud storage.
And in an all-new Under Review, Leander describes the benefits of three inexpensive aftermarket CarPlay screens.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video, embedded below.
Patience is required for those eager to get a folding iPad. Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple just hit the pause button on the large folding iPad supposedly on the drawing board in Cupertino, according to a published report from Wednesday. Development work had allegedly been going on for years.
At the same time, the company is reportedly moving ahead with a folding iPhone.
Siri might be powered by Anthropic Claude or OpenAI ChatGPT. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple’s struggle to develop artificial intelligence might reach the point where the iPhone-maker will need to outsource one of its core technologies: Siri. A promised AI upgrade for the voice assistant may be powered by large language models created by Anthropic or OpenAI, not Apple itself, according to an unconfirmed report published Monday.
But this is only a possibility — no decision has been made.
A wild rumor says Apple's working on a cheaper new MacBook. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple could launch a MacBook next year that’s even more affordable than the current $999 13-inch MacBook Air. The new budget laptop supposedly will use an A18 Pro chip and come in several colors.
The company hopes to boost MacBook shipments to return to the COVID-19 peak of around 25 million next year with this move.
The Apple logo could be on the move in the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro. Photo: Apple
The most significant design change to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might force a secondary modification. The large camera bar reportedly coming to the two premier models could push down the location of the Apple logo, according to a noted tipster.
If true, the new location might cause problems for case makers and irritate MagSafe users.
Take a look at all four iPhone 17 series models (see below). Concept image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
You don’t need to wait until September to see the four models in the iPhone 17 series. Images of them leaked out already, including a new glamour shot showing the entire collection, including the slim model likely called the iPhone 17 Air.
A highlight of the image is the rumored move from a camera hump to a camera bar in most of Apple’s upcoming handsets.
The M5 iPad Pro is only a few months away. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
The next-generation iPad Pro is on the horizon. Its OLED screen is reportedly already in production, and the launch is rumored for this autumn with a new Apple M5 processor on board.
The upcoming iPadOS 26 might do more to spur sales of the tablet than a faster processor or gorgeous screen, though.
The iPhone screen cutout isn’t going away anytime soon. Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
The gradual process of reducing the size of the iPhone screen cutout that’s been ongoing for years will continue, but the front-facing camera will remain visible until 2030, according to a reliable source of leaked Apple info.
Getting the various scanners to work well from behind the iPhone’s OLED panel isn’t a trivial task.
It’s clear Apple plans an extra-large folding iPad, not its first touchscreen Mac. Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Early leaks about an upcoming Apple computer with an 18- to 20-inch folding display were vague about whether the device will be an iPad or the first Mac with a touchscreen. In the wake of the introduction of iPadOS 26, the answer now seems obvious: Apple’s extra-large folding tablet will be an iPad.
Recent comments by a high-level Apple executive about not merging macOS and iPadOS add weight to the theory.
Will Apple acquire Perplexity? Photo: Apple/Perplexity
Apple reportedly held internal discussions to acquire AI startup Perplexity AI. The latter is an AI-powered search engine. It uses a large language model (LLM) to process the answers and presents them in an easier-to-understand format.
The discussions inside Apple are seemingly at an early level, and it may not even officially provide an offer to the young startup.
A folding iPhone might be in short supply for a long time. AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Production of the long-awaited iPhone with a folding screen begins in a few months, according to a trusted analyst. But Apple supposedly plans to make only a few million of them, indicating the company expects this to be a niche product.
Previous reports indicate the price for the folding iPhone could be around $2,000 — about what similar Androids with foldable screens cost. High cost keeps this entire class of handsets out of the hands of average users, and so far it doesn’t seem like Apple has a solution.
The AirPods Pro 3 release date is apparently still months down the road. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Two reliable analysts recently predicted that the AirPods Pro 3 release date won’t come before the end of 2025.
Apple is reportedly loading the next generation of its high-end wireless earbuds up with new features, and that’s apparently taking some extra time. All the way to 2026.
Leaking pre-release images could land you behind bars. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
June 15, 2011: Three people get sentenced to prison in China for leaking information about the iPad 2 prior to its release.
The Foxconn R&D employees receive sentences ranging from one year to 18 months. They also must pay fines between $4,500 and $23,000. If you ever wonder why more Apple products don’t leak prior to release, this might help explain why!
Work on a much smarter Siri will take about a long to finish as pessimists predicted. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
The release date for the AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant will likely come in spring 2026, according to information leaking out of Apple. That’s nine months from now, and a year after it was first expected.
The long delay in the launch of smarter Siri was a significant black eye for Apple, clearly demonstrating that it wasn’t keeping up with rivals in AI research.
Will Apple launch the AirPods Pro 3 this year? Photo: Apple
iOS 26 developer beta hints at Apple launching the AirPods Pro 3 sooner rather than later. The first beta of the OS contains references to the upcoming wireless earbuds.
Conflicting reports surround the AirPods Pro 3 launch. Some point to a fall 2025 release, while others suggest the earbuds might not arrive until 2026.
Apple's Back to School promo goes live soon, too. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s yearly Back to School promo will supposedly go live in the US later this month. Like every year, the company will bundle gift cards with selected devices as part of the promo.
Additionally, Apple will double the carrier promos in its retail stores from late June to boost iPhone sales.
Bad news for anyone hoping for an M4 Ultra Mac Pro. Photo: Apple/Cult of mac
Apple won’t show off any new hardware at its developers conference this week, according to a reliable source. There are apparently no Macs or other products ready to launch.
Instead, WWDC25 will focus entirely on operating system upgrades and other software.
2027 iPhone may build on iOS 26's new visual design. Photo: ChatGPT
Apple’s new visual language for iOS 19/iOS 26 reportedly will lay the groundwork for its upcoming hardware products. This will include a revamped design for the 2027 iPhone, dubbed “Glasswing.”
The device apparently will feature an all-glass design, with a “extraordinarily slim bezels” and a notch-free display.
As WWDC25 looms, rumors flow of more Apple app updates. Photo: Gemini
Apple reportedly is cooking up significant changes to core iPhone and iPad apps, with redesigned interfaces coming soon to the Phone, Safari, Camera and Messages apps. The company plans to reveal the app updates Monday during the WWDC25 keynote, alongside other sweeping changes to its operating systems.